American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

The identified disadvantage of Program Planning and Budgeting Systems (PPBS) being time-consuming is accurate and highlights one of the key challenges in its implementation. PPBS involves a comprehensive process of analyzing and evaluating programs to ensure that resources are allocated effectively. This requires significant time for gathering data, assessing program outcomes, and engaging stakeholders to understand various program needs.

The complexity inherent to PPBS means that planners need to spend considerable effort developing performance measures, forecasting future needs, and aligning budget requests with specific program goals. This time-intensive nature of the system can lead to delays in decision-making and may require dedicated personnel to manage the process effectively. Thus, while PPBS can facilitate better resource allocation in the long term, the immediate resource demands and lengthy procedures can be viewed as a significant disadvantage.

The other options, which mention efficiency, straightforwardness, and minimal planning, do not reflect the reality of PPBS. In fact, PPBS is designed to improve efficiency over time, but its implementation is often intricate. It is not considered straightforward due to the detailed and analytical approach it necessitates, and it inherently requires a substantial level of planning and preparation to execute effectively.